Bolton Abbey, The Valley of Desolation

& Simon's Seat 

12miles 1900ft

Setting off along the river Wharfe towards Bolton Abbey....

....and again

Crossing the river to the large cafe and visitor centre in the abbey grounds, but too early to be open.

A heron was looking for its breakfast below

I continued down the river....

....until the ruins of Bolton Abbey appeared through the mist...

.....and again

I wandered through the ruins before entering....

....the priory church which has seen continuous Christian worship for 850 years

The priory church is dedicated to Saints Cuthbert & Mary and had just opened

This model shows what the original buildings would have been

Leaving the priory I crossed the river to start the climb to Simon's Seat....

....which took me up the Valley of Desolation, so named after a violent storm of 1826 stripped the valley of trees and vegetation, it has now completely recovered....

.....and hides this lovely waterfall

The path climbs out of the valley onto the open moorland

Looking back to where valley emerges to the moors...

.....before completing the climb to Simon's Seat 

Looking back from the summit (1591ft)

....and down to the Skyreholme villages....

....and again

Now on the descent and looking into Upper Wharfedale.....

Now finally back in Wharfedale at the aqueduct which has a that path crosses the river near where my car was parked.

This had been a lovely day's walking with lots of variety and interest. I highly recommend a visit to the area!

A walk along the South Tyne Trail, Lambley Viaduct to Alston

  11miles 500ft 

Leaving my car in Alston I caught the bus to Lambley and walked along the path to the viaduct.

The viaduct is 850ft (260m) long.... 

....108ft (33m) high with a modern footbridge over the river South Tyne below

Looking north, down stream

I crossed back over the footbridge for views from below....

....the viaduct opened in 1852 for trains to carry coal and lead from the  Alston mines to the main railway line at Haltwistle 

Sadly it closed in 1976 but the track from Alston to Slaggyford is now used by the Alston heritage railway

Walking the trail had the feel of looking out of the window of a slow train....!

The railway line takes a route which is quite high up on the west side of  South Tyne Dale, affording views across the dale

As soon as they heard the farmer's vehicle they came running from all directions!

The trail crosses the A680 main road to Brampton....

.....and then on to Slaggyford which is the last stop on Heritage line from Alston

Leaving Slaggyford behind the trail continues alongside the current railway track....

....to the next stop Lintley Halt...

....followed soon after by Kirkhaugh Halt....

....where a diesel maintenance engine came past

Now approaching the caravan site near Alston....

....followed by a final look back down the river and rail line...

before arriving at Alston station....

.....with a view to the spire on top of the church of St Augustine of Canterbury

A final look round the Market Cross.... 

....in the centre of Alston...

....and then back to my car

I'd been looking for a walk today that would stay low level given the poor forecast. The Pennine way also follows a similar route up the South Tyne dale and I remembered that being a pleasant day's walk, However  it didn't pass the Lambley viaduct which was certainly the highlight of the day.

 

 A Blackstone Edge circuit from Hollingworth Lake South Pennines 10.5miles 1500ft

After parking at the visitor centre I took a short walk along the lakeside with the M62 to the south....

....before heading east with Blackstone Edge on the horizon

The early morning mist was lingering in the valley....

....just before the sun came up

Looking north to the wind farm on Shore Moor, actually looking quite attractive through the cloud!

....and again

Looking down the Roman road to Littleborough....

....the road passes the Aiggin Stone.....

....with its explanation

Now on Blackstone edge looking down to Hollingworth lake where I was parked....

....and further along the edge is the summit trig point at 421ft

Chatburn reservoir in the Calder valley

Calderbrook

The Pennine Way follows Blackstone Edge and has been greatly improved with this flagging across the bogs....!

....as far as M62 motorway at Junction 22  at its summit....

....and again

The Pennine Way has its very own stylish footbridge...

....and again

Looking west downhill with lorries struggling to the summit

Looking back as I started the descent towards Hollingworth....

....and again....

....with the heather in full bloom

Back on the side of the lake somewhat shrunk after our long dry spell

Finally back at the very modern visitor centre where I was parked.

I had intended going to South Tynedale in the North Pennines, but after a delay setting off this walk was the result! No regrets however as this was a certainly a Grand Day Out

My thanks to anyone who has sponsored Mark as he sets off next week to walk the Camino de Santiago to raise funds for our Charity the Rwanda Group Trust.

He can still be sponsored at:

www.rwandagrouptrust.org 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-ibison-rgt-caminoingles26?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL